The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-31
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pei platform so large that all who receive
| Christ may stand on it,
think we may overthrow the severe sec
tarianism and bigotry in our hearts. and in
the church also, by realizing that all the de-
nominations of Christians have yielded noble
institutions and noble men. There Is nothing
that so stirs my soul as this thought. One
denomination yielded Robert Hall and an
Adoniram JudSon; another yielded Lati-
n1er and a Melville; another yielded John
Wesley and the blessed Summerf1eld, while
our own denomination yielded John Knox
and the Ale1anders-men OF whom the world
was not worthy. Now, l say, If we are hon.
est and fair-minded men, when we come up
in the presence of such churches and such de-
nominations, although they may be different
from our own, we ought to admire them and
we ought to love and honor them. Churches
which can produce such men, and such large
hearted charity, and such magnificent mar
tyrdom, ought to win our atfcction-at any
rate, our respect. SO come on, ye 900
EpiscopalianS in this country, and ye 500, 900
Presbyterians, and We $50, 900 Baptists, and
We nearly 3.I50.G0) Methodists on,
shoulder to shoulder We will march fo- the
worlds conquest: for all nations are to be
saved, and God demands that you and help
do it. Forward, the whole line.
Moreover, we may also overthrow the feel
ing of severe sectarianism by joining other
when the springtime comes and the anniver-
sary occasions begin and all denominations
come up on the same platform. That over
throws sectarianSm. In the Young Mems
Christian association, in the Bible society, in
the Tract society, in the Foreign Missionary
society. shoulder to SHOULDER all deno,nina-
tionS.
Perhaps might more forcihly illustrate
this truth by calling Your attention to an III
cident which too; place fourteen or fifteen
years ago. One Mhnlly morning ut about
o'clock, while her Wl passengers were sound
asleep in her berths dreaming of home, the
steamer Atlantic crashed into Mars Head.
Five hundred SonlS in ten minutes landed IN
eternity! Oh, what scene! Agonized men
and women running up and down the gang
ways and clutchnS for the rigging, and the
plunge of the helpless STEAMER, and the clap
ping Of the hands of the mercil,.S sch over
the drowning and the de1d, threw two conti-
nents into terror. But 500 this brave quar-.
termaster pushing out with the lifeline until
he gels to the rock; and see these fishermen
ing them into the cabins and wrapping
them in the nannels snug and warm; and see
that minister of the Gospel with three other
men getting into a lifehoat and pushing out
for the wreck, pulling away across the surf
and pulling away until they save one more
man, and then getting back with him to the
shore. Can those mon ever forget that night?
And can they ever forget their companion
ship in peril, companionship in struggle, COM
panionship in awful catastrophe and rescue?
Never! Never In whatever part of the
earth they meet they will be friends when
they mention the story of that awful night
when the Atlantic struck Mars Head.
Well, my friend, our world has gone into
worse shipwrcck. Sin drove it on the rocks.
The old ship has lurchel and tossed in the
tempeSts of six thousand Years. Out with the
life line. do not care what denomination
carries it. Out with the lifeboat! I do not
care what denomination rows it. Side by
side in the memory of common hardshipS, and
common trials, and common prayers, and
common tears. let US be brothers forever.
We must be. We must be.
One army OF the living God
TO whose command we bow:
Part Of the host have GRO sed the flood
And part are crossing now.
And expect to see tho day when all de-
nominations OF Christians shall join hands
around the cross of hrist and recite the
creed: II believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus
Christ, and in the communion OF ints, and
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